Southwest flight returns to Houston after engine issue

A Southwest Airlines flight encountered an engine issue shortly after departing from Houston Hobby Airport on April 17. The flight was en route to Los Cabos International Airport in Mexico when the problem forced the aircraft to return to its departure point. The Boeing 737-700, carrying 134 passengers, landed safely at around 11:30, with no injuries reported.

Southwest Airlines issued a statement expressing gratitude for the professionalism of the flight crew and reiterated the importance of safety: "We appreciate the professionalism of our flight crew in responding to this situation. Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees."

According to Flightradar24, the aircraft was below 3,000 feet when it made the decision to turn back to Houston. The airport's fire department was quick to respond, extinguishing the engine fire and a small grass fire near the runway. The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.